Lakeland Officer Jumps on Car, Shoots as Suspect Tries to Flee

Thursday

Mar 28, 2013 at 5:47 PMMar 29, 2013 at 8:26 AM

Officer and suspect were both taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, police said.

By JEREMY MAREADYTHE LEDGER

LAKELAND | A narcotics investigation turned violent Thursday afternoon after a suspect tried to drive away from police, careening into other parked vehicles and ending after an officer fired his gun, according to Lakeland police.The incident happened about 3 p.m. in the parking lot of CVS at 2041 George Jenkins Boulevard during an investigation by Lakeland's Community Response Team and Special Investigations sections, according to reports.Officer Michael Glass, who fired his gun during the altercation, and James Houston Black, 39, the suspect, were both taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.Glass and other officers stopped a Chevrolet Avalanche, driven by Black, Capt. John Thomason said.At first, Black was cooperative with officers and provided them with his license, Thomason said. But as the officers prepared traffic citations for Black and waited for a K9 officer to arrive, one officer noticed the brake lights of Black's Avalanche illuminate.“He started to drive off,” Thomason said. “So the officer (Glass) jumped on the vehicle and tried to stop it.”While the truck slammed into three parked vehicles and as Glass tried to stop Black from driving, Glass pulled out his gun and fired one shot, Thomason said.The shot didn't strike Black, who eventually crashed into a light pole outside the store, Thomason said. The impact threw Glass from the vehicle and officers arrested Black.“He (Black) complained of pain and was taken to the hospital,” Thomason said. Glass also was taken for some scrapes and cuts he received.

[ Jeremy Maready can be reached at jeremy.maready@theledger.com or 863-802-7592. ]